Triangle Quilt Pattern Update: How to get Sharp Triangles

I think I’ve been promising this post for about 2 years…oops! This is a follow-up to the original Modern Ombre Triangle Quilt Pattern! The original pattern has lots of info in it, but this post will fill in all the gaps to make it super easy to achieve a triangle quilt that you will be proud of! I also updated the pattern piece so there is less guess work!

Not all of my points are sharp in my original quilt. By the time I finished the original triangle quilt I had figured it out. So don’t worry if you’ve made one and it wasn’t perfect. We still love ours.

This post includes:

-An updated pattern piece to make crisp tips easier
-photographed tutorial to make sure you get pointy triangles
-a few extra tips for sharp points
-and a full illustrated tutorial for the triangle quilt

Ahh! Baby fever is setting in.

UPDATED PATTERN PIECE//

The updated pattern piece is just tweaked slightly, but it will make a big difference in getting those sharp point that we all want.

The new pattern piece has blunt edges instead of sharp edges and a slightly different point to make achieving sharp edges easier. With the old pattern piece, you had to stagger the triangles slightly to get it right. But with this one you can just line up the edges perfectly and use 1/4″ seam allowances and everything will work out. There is less guess work with the new pattern piece! Yay!

Here’s how:

Here is the same process in photo form:

Here’s a little close up of where the point meets the blunt edge. You can see that the blunt edge is flush with the edge of the fabric.

Getting the points sharp in each row is the first step. When you sew the rows together, you have to pay extra attention to the points to make sure you don’t cut off the tip or leave too much space so the tip is floating too high above the seam. The best way to do this is to use a pin to keep the points aligned.

Cut out all your pieces and arrange them in rows. See the original post for a pattern if you want a good random quilt.

Cut outer triangles in half to make a flat edge.

Sew triangles into rows using instructions above.

Sew rows together. Match the points together and pin each one carefully to line up points. (See Above)

When all the rows are sewn together, press the quilt well so seam allowances are flat. You don’t have to press them open, just press them flat.

Now, lay out your backing fabric and lay batting on top. I love the natural cotton batting. It isn’t as high loft, so it’s a little easier to work with.

Trim backing fabric and batting so it is the same size as the quilt top

Use spray baste to stick them together. This is really easy, but I’ll share photos tomorrow. It’s just like spray adhesive. Spray it on the batting and then smooth the fabric over it. Then flip it over and repeat with the quilt top.

Quilt fabric by sewing in the ditch of all the triangle lines, or 1/4″ away from them. You can choose how you want to do this for different effects. You can also make random patterns. Whatever you want!

Bind the edge. Use a binding foot to make this easier!

That’s it! This quilt is fairly easy, it just takes a little time!

Tomorrow I will show you how to speed up this process and share more pictures of my pastel/striped triangle quilt. It has gold binding!

Hi! I just finished the quilt top of your triangle quilt. Using your quilt for inspiration, mine is the same size and triangle size. I used various shades of pinks, peaches, coral, salmon, oranges, and white. The baby’s
bedroom is salmon. The backing is a coral and salmon batik. I need to finish it before March.So far is is beautiful. Thanks.

I just have to say I have fallen in love with everything you do. Ever since Julie L (my sis-inlaw) told me about you, I can’t get enough! Thanks for making beautiful things and showing us all your ‘ways’. Keep up the good work! I have plans to try this quilt soon. Thanks for the tut.

OH, I am soooooooo sad! I JUST finished piecing together a triangle quilt for my daughter’s baby due in April and NONE of my triangles have perfect points, I was frustrated but had just decided that that’s how it was supposed to look because the pattern didn’t work any other way. I want to rip it up and start over but that’s not feasible. I don’t know if I should just throw it away or what. I literally finished it this past Saturday. I wish this post could have been a few weeks earlier!!! I’m so sad and frustrated.

I literally just finished sewing a quilt with your previous pattern and kept thinking, there’s no way to sew this and make perfect triangles. The finished quilt is still beautiful….guess I’ll just have to sew another.

Thanks for this !! Triangles were making me insane, some would have points others looked decapitated. Thank you!! * Quick quest–I tried to “pin” from your blog and it just goes to one picture that doesn’t even look like it’s from your site….so I didn’t pin. Any ideas what might be happening? I pin a lot so I don’t “think” it’s user error. LOL ;)

How did you manage to get 19 triangles out of half a yard of fabric? I’ve tried it every way and can only get 16? I printed the template actual size, so the triangle should be the correct size? Thanks a lot for the pattern!!

Do you think it’s possible to double the size? I made your quilt and just adore it. Now I want a bigger one for my couch, and I’m thinking of just doubling everything! I’m a super beginner (actually, yours was the first quilt I’ve ever made!) so I don’t know if there are any rules that “apply.” ;)

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My name is Kate, a twenty something fashion lover and mother of two. When I’m not chasing kids you can find me at my sewing table or daydreaming up new designs. You can read more about me here. Thank you for visiting!